Self-Publishing Your Book. A Concise Training Course. Part 4 of 9, Publisher's Terms and Preliminary Pages

Publisher's Terms like Recto and Verso

• When you become involved with publishing and self-publishing, you'll come across a range of publishing terms. I recommend that you take some time to learn and understand each of the most used terms. See two common examples below.
• Recto is a term that refers to right-side (facing) pages.
• Verso refers to left-side pages in a two-page conventionally printed book.

Preliminary Pages

Pages that are included in a publication before the main text of a book are considered as preliminary content. Standard rules and conventions have been developed about the order of preliminary pages that are used in a professionally produced book. For example, items below marked with an asterisk (*) are considered essential; other items are optional:

Half-Title

Options include:

• Title of the book only.
• Position: Recto.

Reverse of Half-Title

Options include:

• Blank.
• A relevant illustration, or
• A list of author's previous publications.
• Position: Verso.

* Title Page

Options include:

• Contains: full title of the publication and optionally any subtitle.
• Name of author or pen-name, and
• Name of publisher (imprint).
• Position: Recto.

* Reverse of Title Page

Contains:

• Publication date.
• Publisher's contact details, name and address.
• Copyright information.
• Printer's name and address, and
• ISBN.
• Position: Verso.

* Contents or Table of Contents

Contains:

• List of chapter headings or poem titles.
• Position: Recto.

Foreword

Contains:

• Snapshot introduction to the book written by someone other than the author.

• Position: Recto.

Introduction:

• An introduction to the book that is written by the author of the work.

• Position: Recto.

Acknowledgments:

• Contains: information that recognizes and thanks those people who have helped with the book.

• Position: Recto.

Dedication:

• The name of the person to whom the book is dedicated.

• Position: Verso.